From the old World Theater in Tinley Park, IL outside Chicago.

The place was crowded and showed out! I honestly didn't think Santana could attract that size of crowd anymore. The venue itself continues to provide an overall unenjoyable experience. Entry was long and inefficient. Acoustics are atrocious anywhere not close the stage. Concessions are limited though they have improved overall quality of beer and wine selection if you can stomach the prices.

Doobies were good. I don't follow them but seemed to be greatest hits plus some more obscure, maybe even newer tunes that were OK. What a great addition Quinnones is --- he really helped drive the band. I was hoping Carlos would have him sit in, but no dice. Marc is 2-3x better than Paoli Mejias, imo, whom Santana added in the 3rd chair behind Parazzo and Cindy a few years ago. Even still, those 3 make the greatest rhythm section in rock, hands down, these days.

The new(er) keyboardist David Matthews is very good. Seems like he's played with just about everybody at some point, which kinda makes him almost too homogenous for such a vibrant sounding band but the guy has skills, no doubt. The rhythm guitarist has been around a while and is barely noticeable. The latino singer does the part, but the other singer Ray Greene is fairly new I think and has some PIPES. Dude can sing. Oh, and he plays a mean trombone, too. Talented fella.

Setlist was mostly greatest hits with an emphasis on the Supernatural era. He may have played one tune from his new African-themed record which is excellent and his best work in years but I'm not positive. It did feel a little like a victory lap from a forgone era that saw his highest commercial success.

As for the music, Carlos and his band are at a very high level. Extremely tight. Most of the show felt pretty prescriptive from song-structure perspective, but a few tunes stretched out and have been reworked, which was welcomed. If there's a bassist who's more under appreciated by the majority of music fans, I can't think of any more than Benny Reitveld. The guy is both master and monster. Love his playing and his stage presence. If it was just him and Carlos and someone on a kit I'd break down doors to see them - not gonna happen, I know. One can dream!

And Carlos kept his preaching upbeat, succinct and on-point. No lengthy diatribes. He seemed in an overall happy playful mood.

If you're considering seeing this tour but are on the fence, I highly recommend jumping off and diving in. I was happy I did and you will, too.